This post originally appeared on Pockets Full of Wonder.
I’ve shared how much I like packing lunches for my daughter. And I like to make them fun. But I don’t have the time and creative energy to get artistic with it.
These little tips and lunchbox hacks add that element of fun, will bring a smile to your kiddo’s face, and won’t stress you out in the process. (Have you noticed a theme of me liking things that are easy??)
Some of these I did last year for my daughter. I’m upping my game this year by trying a few new ideas!
Simple Ways to Make Packed Lunches Fun!
Small Treat
On a whim, I threw a couple Girl Scout cookies (the shortbreads – yummy!) in my daughter’s lunch once last year. That won me a TON of cool points! We don’t do dessert a ton in our house, so getting a little treat in her lunch just made my daughter’s day! It doesn’t have to be cookies. I’ve also sent fruit snacks, trail mix, and snack mix.
Kebabs
For a fun and super easy way to dress up a simple DIY lunchable, put the ingredients on a skewer. It will only add about 30 seconds to your prep time. (For safety, use strong kitchen scissors to cut the pointy end off after you’ve put the kebab together.)
Fun Sandwich Shapes
I know I’ve shared a bunch of non-sandwich lunch ideas, but that doesn’t mean sandwiches are off limits over here. My daughter loves a good turkey and cheese! And cutting a sandwich into a star shape doesn’t take any more time or talent than cutting it into regular ol’ triangles. So I’m trying out these super cute sandwich cutters.
Googly Eyes
Kids love silly stuff. And food with googly eyes and funny faces is silly!
Silicone Cupcake Liners
I use these to divide up larger spaces in our lunchboxes. But they also add some color and fun! Disposable ones are wasteful and get too wet, so I like these silicone baking cups that I can reuse over and over.
Lunchbox Jokes
My daughter loves telling jokes. And now that she can read, I know she’s going to get a hoot out of getting a joke in her lunchbox! (Don’t worry, you don’t have to be funny or creative. — I got this book of 100 tear-out jokes on Amazon and they’re perfect for grade-schoolers!)
Encouraging Note
Kids can always use a bit of extra encouragement. And I love the idea of a sweet note in their lunchbox as a mid-day reminder that they’re loved! (And because I’m all about easy, I love these cute lunchbox note cards. Some have pre-printed notes and some are blank for you to write your own message.)
Leave a Reply